Mining-machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. STEPHENSON. MINING MACHINE.

. Patented Jan. 6,1891.

...9mm M. M

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. STEPHENSON.

MINING MACHINE. Y

Patented Jan.6, 1891.

(No Model.)

PATENT Trice.

JOSEPH STEPHENSON, OF SPARLAND, ILLINOIS.

MINING-MACHINE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,027, dated January 6, 1891.

Application iiled September 8, 1890. Serial No. 364,305. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH STEPHENsoN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Sparland, in the county of Marshall and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Mining-Machi ne, of which the following is a specification.

` This invention relates to mining-machines of that class which are used especially for t-he purpose of mining coal; and it has for its object to construct a machine for this purpose, by means of which coal may be mined more easily and quickly than by the methods now in general use.

My invention consists specifically in the improved construction of a device which may be te"med a plow, by means of which furrows ot' considerable length and depth may be cut in the solid wall ofA the coal which has been previously dressed, so as to present a smooth surface.

The invention further consists in the improved construction and arrangement ot details, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved mining-machine, showing the same arranged in position for operation. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the miningmachine, showing the same expanded. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 4 is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The frame of my improved mining-machine is composed of the side rails 1 and 2, which are constructed of metal beams, which are U-shaped in cross-section, each having the longitudinal groove in its inner side. The outer beam 2 is provided on its outer side with ears or lugs 3, forming boxes orbearings in which friction-rollers #lare journaled. The inner beam l is provided on its outer side with blocks 5, having inwardly-extending teeth or cutters 6. vThese blocks are two in number, arranged at the ends of the framebar, and the teeth or cutters at the two ends are beveled in opposite direc-tions in order to enable the machine to cut in both directions of its movement.

7 7 designate a pair of rods, the outer ends of which are screw-threaded and the inner ends of which are provided with iiattened heads 8. To each of the said heads is pivoted a pair of rods, 9 9, which extend nearly to the ends of the frame-piece, with which they are pivotally connected, the grooves in the inner sides of said frame-beams serving to receive the ends of said connecting-rod. The pivotal pins 10, upon which said connectingrods are mounted, are provided withr spacing-thimbles 1l, to retain said rods in proper position. The employment of said thixnbles is due to the fact that it is necessary to arrange the rods 7, having the extensionrods 9, one above the other, 'and it becomes necessary to space them in the manner de-- scribed in order to prevent them from interfering with each other during the operation of the machine.

To the ends of the frame-bars 1 and 2 are pivoted the link-rods 12 12, which cross each other at the ends of the machine, and to which is pivotally connected .the seat-rings 13, having diametrically-opposite lugs 141 to receive the pivotal pins. These rings serve as seats for the nuts l5, which are screwed onto the outer ends of the screw-threaded rods 7, said nuts being provided With iianges 16, that bear against the outer sides of thei seat-rings.

It will be observed that by tightening the nuts 15 upon the rods 7 the links 12 will force the inner and outer frame-beams 1 and 2 apart from each other, the rods 7 and extensionrods 9 serving to brace the entire frame and to enable it to resist the pressure to which in practice it will be subjected.

In the operation of my improved miningmachine it is first necessary to dress the wall of coal which is to be operated upon to a smooth and flat surface. provided parallel to the wall ot" coal, upon which the rollers 4 of the machine may ride, said track being at a distance from the wall of coal equal to the width of the machine when entirely collapsed. By tightening the nut 15 at one end of the machine the frame oi:` the latter is next expanded, so as to give the teeth at that end of the machine a iirm bite in the wall of coal. The end of the frame which is thus expanded is the one which may A track 17 is then i IOC at thetime be termed the rear end, accordi ing to the direction in which the machine is to travel. Tire cables 1S are attached to the ends of the rods 7, and these wire cables are guided over pulleys 19 to winding drums 20, which may be operated by steam, compressed air, or other suitable means. Motion in the desired direction is now imparted to the maehine,whieh, traveling along the track, cuts a furrow in the wall of coal. The nut at the opposite end of the machine is now tightened sufticiently to cause the teeth at that end to bite tirmly into the coal, after which the lnachine is caused to travel in the opposite direction, thus deepening the furrow. rIhis operation is repeated until the machine has been expanded to its utmost extent, when a horizontal groove will have been cut to a considerable depth in the wall of coal, the depth of said furrow being governed by the extent to which the machine may be expanded. The machine may new be removed and the operation repeated at a different elevation, after which the'coal between the two grooves thus formed maybe easily removed by blasting or otherwise.

'lhe advantages ot this invention will be readily understood from. the foregoing dcscription, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. Its operation is very rapid and eiiicient and a great saving of power is effected thereby. Those mining-machines which operate by drilling practically grind the material which is removed by the drills into powder, while by my invention the teeth or cutters serve to split and cut away the material removed thereby.

The construction of my improved miningmachine is simple and inexpensive, and it may be readilymanipulated with satisfactory results even by comparatively inexperienced hands.

Having thus described my invention, I elaim- 1. In a 1nining-macl1ine,the combination, with the side framepieces, one of which is provided with rollers andthe other with teeth or cutters, of mechanism for expanding or forcing apart the said frame-pieces, substantially as set forth.

f2. In a mining-machine, the combination, with thc side frame-pieces, one ot' which is provided with rollers and the other with teeth or cutters, of mechanism for expanding or forcing apart the ends of said frame-pieces independently of each other, substantially as set: forth.

3. In a niininganaehiue, the combination of the side frtnne-pieces provided, respect ively, with rollers and with teeth or cutters, the link-rods pivoted at the ends of said framepieces and crossing eachother, the longitudinal rods having screw-threaded ends, the seatrings mounted pivotally at the ends of thelinkrods, the nuts mounted upon the ends of the screw-threaded rods and seated in said rings, and pivoted rods connectingthe inner ends ot' said screw-threaded rods with the ends of the frame, substantially as set forth.

1t. The combination of the channeled or U- shaped frame-pieces, one of which is provided with teeth or cutters, the link-rods pivoted at the ends of said frame-pieces and crossing each other, the seat-rings mounted pivotally at the ends of said link-rods, the screwthreaded rods having fiatteued inner ends, the pivoted rods connecting the same with the ends of the trame-pieces, the spacing sleeves or thinibles, and the flanged nuts seated in the rings at the ends of the link-rods and mounted upon the screw-threaded rods, substantially as set forth.

5. In a miniugniaehine, the combination, with the cxpansible frame, of the rollers mounted in suitable bearings upon the outer side of one frame-bar and the blocks secured at the ends of the other frame-bar, said blocks being provided with beveled teeth or cutters which are beveled in opposite directions at the opposite ends ot the frame` substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

(i. lhe mining-machine consisting of the herein-described expansible frame, provided on one side with grooved wheels or rollers and on the opposite sides with beveled teeth or cutters, in combination with the cables attached to the ends of the machine, the guidetraek, the guide-pulleys, and the windingdrums, substantially as and for the purpose speeied.

7. In a mining-machine, the frame com`V posed, essen tially, of the side pieces equipped, respectively, with wheels or rollers and with teeth or cutters, in combination with the pivoted rods or links connecting said pieces, and means for expam'ling the ends of the frame independently of each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aftixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH S'FEIIHCNSON.

Witnesses:

R. L. ORcU'r'r, l?. R. Winn.

TOO

ITO 

